The Biterrois will go to Charente with peace of mind having consolidated their place on the podium after defeating Nice. Enough to travel with ambition to Chanzy for one of the shocks of this day, a place which is nevertheless extremely hostile, since the Héraultais have never imposed themselves there since the accession of SAXV to Pro D2.
The least we can say is that Chanzy has been particularly inhospitable for the Héraultais since the Violets moved up to the second professional division in 2016. The ASBH has never managed to win its duel against the SAXV, when it was necessary to reach the 537 kilometers which separate the two cities, characterizing the numerous falls harvested by the red and blue during this journey which had become precarious over time. A single defensive bonus brought back in 2021 (15-12), the only war trophy brought back by Béziers during this distant peregrination. If many places are renowned for their harshness and their infallible determination, the Biterrois have frequently sunk into the lair of the SAXV, for lack of a favorable context which still escapes reason to this day, without giving any explanation for this fact. .
Those who have tried it are addicted to it, according to the established expression. “We went there twice with David Aucagne when we were in Béziers and we took two flights therestarts David Gerard, the current coach of Romania. The state of mind displayed and a great will, with the help of a large audience, mean that Angoulême remains very complicated to play at home. Béziers has arguments of course, we can readily mention the similarities between the two teams, in terms of player profiles. If you don’t have possession, if you don’t win the ground battle against the Angoumoisins, it will be difficult to achieve a result.” Of the ingredients to put in place necessary to reverse a persistent trend, he adds:“You have to put a lot of conviction into Chanzy, something that predominates the tactics and technique to adopt to succeed.”
Twin brothers who don’t know each other?
While the outcome of this meeting could allow the winner to further establish its legitimacy within the Top 6 and a qualifying peloton which would assert itself, Soyaux-Angoulême and Béziers have several common facets to exploit to achieve their ends. Yvann Lalevée, the ASBH hooker saw this SAXV team as “very similar to ours, with players capable of triggering things all over the field. It’s always strange to face a team that plays the same rugby as you. We have the impression of being neutralized, to have the same reactions. They remind me of Mont-de-Marsan who moves the ball very well. It is true that this move is not very successful for us, and even if their last success in Biarritz means a lot, we obviously have. want to bring something back.”
Ludovic Mercier knows both clubs well. That of Angoulême for starting his career and that of Béziers which allowed him to start his career. The former Gloucester player analyzes the confrontation as particularly indecisive. “Both teams have precise game launches, their overall volume placing them at a level of performance which undeniably allows them to play leading roles. When you watch this type of rugby play, it’s very pleasant”details the current Aubenas coach. “The atmosphere is special in Chanzy, it’s very chauvinistic and it’s a real rugby land. I always get chills when I talk about it, and that’s perhaps an explanation why certain clubs don’t never manage to be exported there”he clarifies. Between philosophical rapprochement and a certain duality in the development of content, Soyaux-Angoulême and Béziers favor the standing game, recovery balls and a certain idea of rapid adaptation to events. One of the explanations among others, for the amazing SAXV season, for the form of continuity which also operates in Hérault.
The respectability of Béziers in the fold
In order to face their old demons, the Héraultais will leave for Charente with the ambition of playing the game corresponding to the skills learned since last season. A trademark of sorts which has been exported on several occasions, a consistency which has emerged over the course of the results. “We are where we wanted to bespecifies Yvann Lalevée. We inevitably think about last year and our journey. It could have been a coup and we make sure that it isn’t the case, where sometimes you stumble after everything or almost everything goes your way.” A continuity now adopted, the fruit of long work, he adds :”There is a project that is being implemented with Pierre Caillet. It was not easy at the beginning and we saw the positive consequences in the end. We are working differently, and the staff is getting us in good spirits.”
Facing the Angoumoisins led by Alexandre Ruiz, the native of Béziers and the village of Portiragnes a few kilometers from the Raoul-Barrière Stadium, who knew how to maximize the potential of the SAXV in the space of a few months, the task will be difficult. The numerous confrontations such as the finishers George Tilsley or Johnny May against Pierre Courtaud, the bosses of the game like Ben Botica or Charly Malié in great form, or the solid Maxence Lemardelet almost considered exfiltrated as a former Béziers player who knows the house, facing Shahn Eru who is giving himself a second youth in Hérault, will be to be scrutinized in this promising meeting. So that Chanzy no longer rhymes with fatality for the people of Biterrois?
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